· On October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy disclosed to the American people that U.S. spy planes had discovered the placement of Soviet offensive missiles in Cuba. In light of this crisis President Kennedy said, “Our unswerving objective, therefore, must be to prevent the use of these missiles against this or any other country, and to secure their withdrawal, or elimination, from the Western Hemisphere.”
The president announced the order of a naval blockade to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more missiles or warheads to Cuba. Furthermore, Kennedy explained that the United States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place.
Over the next six days, the crisis escalated and tensions were high as the world tottered on the brink of full-scale war between the two nuclear superpowers. On October 28th, the Cuban Missile Crisis ended as suddenly as it began. Thanks to secret negotiations, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announced his country’s willingness to remove the weapons from Cuba. Kennedy called off the blockade of Cuba, and by year’s end all of the offensive missiles had left Cuba. The world breathed a sigh of relief. (www.TheHistoryChanel.com.)
Satan will not negotiate a disarmament. Hell’s missiles are armed and ready for deployment–condemnation, depression, oppression, temptation; we are engaged in an all out war.
None of us need to be a casualty or this cosmic struggle. Jesus was Himself “tempted in every way, just as we are,” but He withstood the test and overcame Satan’s attacks. We too can follow Christ’s example and have “Faith to Stand.”
+ 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. BUT WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED, HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A WAY OUT SO THAT YOU CAN STAND UP UNDER IT. (NIV)
Look with me now at Christ’s temptation as found in Luke 4:5-8. Jesus overcame the first temptation, but Satan is like a boomerang–you can throw it away, but it keeps coming back! We can never think that once we have overcome a temptation that it’s the end of it. Satan is relentless in his attack.
As you turn there, it is worth noting that Luke’s order of the three temptations is different from the account found in Matthew 4. It seems that Matthew gives what we could consider a chronological sequence as indicated by his use of words like “then” and “after.” However, we need to keep in mind that even Matthew says that Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. I believe that Jesus faced the attack of the enemy throughout the forty days in the wilderness and that the three temptations are representative of all Satan’s attacks against Christ.
Luke does not make such chronological transitions; the temptations seem to be ordered theologically. Luke’s gospel follows the outline of temptations as found in 1 John 2:16; “the cravings of sinful man” is like the temptation to turn stones to bread; “the lust of his eyes” parallels the temptation to rule the kingdoms of the world; and “the boasting of what he has and does” corresponds to the temptation for Christ to leap from the highest point of the temple.
+ Luke 4:5-8 5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’" (NIV)
In the Old Testament, Daniel tells how Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to bow down in worship to the image of gold which he had set up. The penalty for disobeying the kings command was certain death–to be burned alive in the fiery furnace. The threat of death didn’t cause Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to bow their knees, and as you probably know God saw to it that the flames of Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace couldn’t harm them.
Satan turns the tables on Jesus. Instead of trying to strong-arm Jesus to bow his knee with the fear of a death sentence, the devil offers Jesus the world on a silver platter without the sting of death at the cross. Satan is telling Jesus, “You don’t have to die to try to win back the world; I’ll give it all to You–all You have to do is worship me.”
REMEMBER WITHIN EVERY TEMPTATION YOU WILL FIND THE DEVIL’S DEADLY DECEPTION. Satan conceals his lethal lies. Temptation is the bait used to lure us to bite the hidden hook of sin. The lethal lie, the devil’s hook, always leads to death.
Last week we saw hidden within the first temptation for Jesus to turn stones to bread Satan concealed 5clever deceptions:
▸ If it feels good, do it!
▸ Look out for number one.
▸ I thought God loved You; You deserve better than this.
▸ If you’ve got it flaunt it.
▸ Why wait? Go for it now!
JESUS SAW THROUGH SATAN’S DECEPTION. Satan made Jesus an offer that many of us couldn’t refuse. We are often blinded by the devil’s lies and cannot see the truth.
Jesus saw the deception; He knew the truth. Can you see what Jesus saw? The devil’s lethal lie was this: JESUS, WHEN YOU WORSHIP ME YOU CAN HAVE ALL AUTHORITY AND POWER.
Jesus saw the truth through the devil’s deception: YOU PLACE YOURSELF UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF WHOMEVER OR WHATEVER YOU WORSHIP. Putting it plainly; whenever you bow to worship one of Satan’s “little gods”–fame, money, pleasure, power, religion, no matter what the god may be you give Satan authority over your life.
Even if Satan would follow through on his devilish deal and give the kingdoms of the world to Jesus it would only be for a season. Satan would maintain the ultimate control of the kingdoms of this world. Why? In bowing down to Satan, Jesus would have put Himself under the devil’s authority and control; therefore, Jesus rule over the world would be limited because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Satan offered Jesus the world without pain of death on the cross, but fortunately Jesus knew what the devil wasn’t telling Him. They both knew that Jesus would still die if He were to bow His knee to Satan. Instead of just physical death, Jesus would have to endure the eternal spiritual death of being forever separated from the Father God. Satan would have won and we would be lost forever.
Jesus would not bow to Satan and give the devil control over His life. Jesus submitted to the ultimate authority of His Father in heaven. Because Jesus overcame the devil and endured the agonizing death on the cross, after His resurrection Jesus told His disciples, “ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME” (Matthew 28:18 NIV).
+ Colossians 2:10 [Jesus] is the head over every power and authority. (NIV)
Satan still has authority and power over this world. Revelation 13 tells us that Satan, the Dragon, will work his power and authority through the Beast, the Antichrist; the whole world will be in awe of the beast and worship him. But that’s not the end of the story!
+ Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." (NIV)
Although Satan will exercise his authority Jesus will break the back of the serpent and reign in victory! Satan is defeated!
+ 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then the end will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (NIV)
That’s the good news; CHRIST REIGNS!
Because Jesus has overcome the deceptive attack of the enemy, He has set an example for us so that we too can defeat the onslaught of Satan. We to can have “Faith to Stand.” Jesus empowers us so that we can have the strength to stand when all around us others are bowing down to Satan’s schemes.
The devil is still offering the world on a silver platter to any who will bow down and worship him. He would have us believe that we can receive power and authority; the devil wants us to believe that we can be in control of our lives.
Don’t believe the devil’s lie. In the same way that Satan sought to tempt Christ to bow His knee, the devil tries to use his devilish deception to get us to bow down to one of his idols.
What are the idols that Satan would seek to get us to bow before in order to gain control of our lives? Christ’s second temptation uncovers these false gods.
1. THE IDOL OF BLIND AMBITION
Satan offered Jesus the world on a silver platter; the devil showed Him “all the kingdoms of the world” and offered them to Jesus in exchange for worship. Satan’s hope was that Jesus would be blinded by His desire to rule the world and not see the ultimate cost. Satan wanted Jesus to believe that He could have it all for “a song.” No one would have to know how Jesus came to rule the world.
Satan is an expert with the idol of blind ambition. Not only did the devil create this god, but he was the first to bow to it. Satan’s desire was to ascend to the throne of God; pride so filled his heart that the creation believed he could take the place of the creator. Satan’s ambition blinded him to the truth (Isaiah 14:12-15).
The idol of blind ambition dazzles our eyes too. Satan wants us to go after a higher status. Often he causes us to believe that we gain importance through our “things.” The devil puts the stuff of the world before us with all it’s gold and glitter and says its ours for the taking; we can build our image with the right things. The radiance of Satan’s offer can indeed be blinding.
Understand, having nice “things” is not a problem. God wants us to enjoy His creation.
+ 1 Timothy 4:4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. (NIV)
Satan wants us to put power, control and things ahead of God; he seeks to deceive any of us to bow at the idol of blind ambition. Things can take control of our hearts. We no longer have time for church, family or friends; we find that we just don’t have enough to give to God anymore.
+ Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (NIV)
Satan wants us to believe that our hearts are not divided, that we still seek to worship God while all the while the devil is lavishing at our song sung to the idol of blind ambition.
+ James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (NIV)
+ Matthew 16:26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (NIV)
Don’t’ be deceived! Satan wants you to sell your soul for a song! Don’t let yourself bow to his idols.
2. THE IDOL OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION
In an instant Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of this world and they could all be given to Jesus immediately–right that moment if Jesus would just worship Satan. Quite an offer!
Don’t forget, Jesus was still an unknown. He had not called the disciples to follow Him; no crowds came to hear His teaching; Jesus didn’t have a great healing ministry. Yet Satan offered Jesus the world–no suffering, no sacrifice, no struggle, just a song!
Satan does not want us to wait on God’s timing either. He wants us to impulsively grab today what God would delight in giving us tomorrow.
· We may seek honor and recognition –to be noticed for our hard work and achievements. We’ve earned some respect right? The Bible says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6 NIV).
· We may desire wealth –even with what we might say are pure motives; we want to give into God’s kingdom. So we play the lottery in hopes of the big payoff. Scripture tells us that,“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4 NIV).
· We might want to have some of the nice things our friends or neighbors have –perhaps it’s a new car or a new house. We sign the credit card slip or the loan application and our dept soon beings to overwhelm us. Proverbs tells us to go and consider the ant and be wise; it works diligently to provide for what it will need today and tomorrow–it doesn’t consume today what it will have to work to payoff later. We are also taught that the debtor is made the slave of the lender (Proverbs 6:6-11; 22:7).
· We may desire intimacy –to know that we are loved, so we begin to flirt with someone at work or school and their response makes us feel good. One thing leads to another–we never intended to have sex outside of marriage, but we were in love. The Bible tells us that we should “flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).
God has a wonderful plan for you life; He will provide all that you need. Satan wants you to sing a song at the idol of instant gratification–go for it; now! Don’t be hasty; wait on God and His timing.
3. THE IDOL OF THE EASY WAY
Satan offered Jesus help fulfilling the Father’s will and purpose for His life. God the Father had made Jesus the promise that He would reign and rule over the kingdoms of this world.
+ Psalm 2:7-9 7I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." (NIV)
JESUS COULD HAVE GOD’S WILL--SATAN’S WAY.
Satan wants to offer you an easy way to follow God’s plan for your life. This may surprise you but God does not open every door in your life; some have been opened by Satan himself. The broad road to hell could be named “Easy Street.”
Satan has sold the church today a lie. We believe that if we are doing the will of God then we should not face any problems or difficulties; when we are living our life for God it should be smooth sailing. Don’t you believe it!
God will direct our footstep and lead us in the way we are to follow. God will equip and empower us to follow Him, but that doesn’t mean the way will be easy.
We like to quote Isaiah 30:21. It assures us that we can follow the direction of the Lord; we can know what direction to turn and continue to walk in God’s way. We don’t often think about what Isaiah says first in verse 20.
+ Isaiah 30:20-21 20Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." (NIV)
When you find situations begin to get difficult and hard, don’t assume you have missed God. Don’t run through the first door that opens in front of you; Satan just may be the doorman leading you to “Easy Street.”
Satan brought the attack; he offered Jesus power and authority over the kingdoms of this world for a song. The devil still offers up the things of this world for a simple song of praise. Satan wanted Jesus to bow before his idols; he wants us to do the same:
· bow to the idol of blind ambition;
· bow to the idol of instant gratification;
· bow to the idol of the easy way.
Jesus was ready to counter the attack. He would not falter or give in to the devil’s scheme; Jesus did not waver in His commitment a life of surrendered obedience. Our Lord again overcame Satan’s attack with the Word of God.
Luke 4:8 Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’" (NIV)
When the enemy brings the attack, we must be ready with the counter attack. If we are to overcome Satan’s deadly deception we must be FILLED UP and PRAYED UP.
Filled Up: we have hidden God’s word within our hearts which keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11). We’ve have been trained in the use of the sword of the Spirit and we are armed and dangerous!
Prayed Up: prayer prepares us for the battle; we are ready for action. We go into battle not in our own strength, but empowered by the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION:
· “Wars are not won by evacuations.” This was the warning given by Winston Churchill to the British House of Commons during WW2. Germany was continuing to advance in France backing the Allied forces up against the English Channel. On May 26, 1940 330,000 Allied troops were rescued from Hitler’s army and brought safely across the 70 mile wide channel using thousands of privately owned small boats. The British people were celebrating as if they had won the war. But as Churchill warned his nation, “Wars are not won by evacuations.” If the war was to be won then they must be prepared to fight. Churchill called his nation to prepare for battle saying, “We shall fight with growing confidence. . .we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, e shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
Wars are not won by evacuations; we can’t run and hide from the battle. We must be ready to face the attack of the enemy with growing confidence–faith to stand!
Defense #1: RESIST SATAN IMMEDIATELY!
+ James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NIV)
Defense #2: USE GOD’S WORD STRATEGICALLY!
+ Psalm 119:9, 133 9How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. . .133Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. (NIV)
Defense #3: WORSHIP GOD EXCLUSIVELY!
+ Deuteronomy 6:5, 13 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. . . 13Fear the LORD your God, serve him only. (NIV)
You can overcome the attack of the enemy. You have “faith to stand.”
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Portions of the series "Faith to Stand" are drawn from the book: FAITH UNDER FIRE, Steven J. Lawson, 1995.
